Black Friday is Now! Don’t miss out on up to 60% OFF InvestingProCLAIM SALE

Containing Barca's 'MSN' will be a huge task - Allegri

Published 14/05/2015, 00:10
© Reuters. REUTERS - Juventus Press Conference

By Zoran Milosavljevic

MADRID (Reuters) - Stopping prolific Barcelona forwards Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez in the Champions League final will be a formidable task, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said after his side clinched their place in next month's showpiece in Berlin.

Juve eliminated holders Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate thanks to a 1-1 draw in Wednesday's semi-final second leg at the Bernabeu and will bid for a third continental title when they meet four-times winners Barca at the Olympic Stadium on June 6.

Juve's hopes will hinge on whether they can thwart Barca's South American attacking trident of Messi, Neymar and Suarez, known in Spain as 'MSN', who have rattled in a club-record 114 goals between them in all competitions this season.

Neymar scored three and Messi struck twice as Barca eased past Bayern Munich 5-3 on aggregate in their Champions League semi-final.

Messi is joint top scorer with Real's Cristiano Ronaldo in the latest edition of Europe's elite club competition with 10 goals. Neymar has netted nine times and Suarez six.

"Anything is possible in one game but it will be a mountain of task to contain a team boasting the likes of Messi, Suarez and Neymar," Allegri told a news conference.

"Still, I am not thinking about Barcelona or the possibility of winning a treble just yet because we first have the Italian Cup final against Lazio," he added.

Both Juve and Barca have a chance of completing a treble of Champions League and domestic league and Cup titles.

Juve have wrapped up a fourth successive Serie A triumph, while Barca can clinch a fifth La Liga title in seven years with a win at last Atletico Madrid on Sunday. They play Athletic Bilbao in the King's Cup final at the end of the month.

The Champions League final will pit Uruguay striker Suarez against Juve's Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, who Suarez bit on the shoulder at last year's World Cup finals in Brazil.

© Reuters. REUTERS - Juventus Press Conference

Suarez, who subsequently joined Barca from Liverpool, was banned for four months and it will be the first time they have faced each other since the incident.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.